This morning, President Trump sent out a tweet informing the entire world that White House Counsel Don McGahn will be leaving in the fall. While Trump claims that he appreciates McGahn’s service thus far, the announcement comes not long after the revelation earlier this month that McGahn spent more than 30 hours in conversation with Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

A simple interpretation of events would indicate that Trump is scared of Mueller and is seeking to put as much distance between himself and McGahn as possible.

White House Counsel Don McGahn will be leaving his position in the fall, shortly after the confirmation (hopefully) of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. I have worked with Don for a long time and truly appreciate his service!

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), usually a reliable supporter of Trump and his agenda, seemed to draw issue with the McGahn announcement and took to his Twitter to voice his subdued protestations.

“I hope it’s not true McGahn is leaving WhiteHouse Counsel. U can’t let that happen,” Grassley tweeted in his trademark idiosyncratic, typo-ridden style. Why exactly this incident — out of all the heinous things the president has done in his short tenure — is the thing to draw protest from Grassley is unclear.

Grassley’s tweet caught the attention of George Conway, husband of Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway. While Kellyanne is one of Trump’s most dishonest, rabid acolytes — and in fact the author of the now-infamous “alternative facts” neologism — Mr. Conway has little love for our authoritarianism-fetishizing leader.

George Conway has been a frequent critic of the administration, and he saw Grassley’s tweet as an opportunity to poke fun at Trump. “remember the eighth amendment, senator,” Conway tweeted.

The Eighth Amendment states that “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Presumably, Conway is playfully implying that forcing Trump to retain McGahn amidst the expanding Mueller investigation would in effect be “cruel and unusual punishment.”

It’s not too much of a stretch, given the fact that Trump is clearly sinking deeper and deeper into unhinged paranoia. His deteriorating mind is put on full display every time he taps out one of his guilty-sounded, desperate tweets. The walls are closing in on him, and he knows it.